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Licensing in Rotherham

Rotherham has selective licensing in part of the council area.

Checked 15 Oct 2026

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Licensing, ward by ward

Select a ward to see its name and licensing.

  • May be covered: check the council's map25

Current ward boundaries from ONS. Some homes are exempt, so check your postcode and the scheme details below.

Selective licensing
Part of the council area
Additional HMO licensing
No
Article 4 on house shares
Not yet confirmed
Consultation
Awaiting decision

Licensing schemes

  • Selective licence

    In force

    Rotherham selective licensing 2026–2031 — Brinsworth

    Area

    Only the blue-edged Brinsworth area in Annex A of its signed designation. The council street/postcode list includes partial coverage and cannot be treated as a whole-street list. Address list: rotherham.gov.uk . Search individual properties at maps.rotherham.gov.uk .

    Runs
    15 February 2026 to 13 February 2031
    Fee

    Published standard fee: £975

    Standard fee £975: £276 non-refundable Part 1 administration and £699 Part 2 maintenance on offer of a licence. A complete application with supporting evidence is required within 90 days of the property becoming licensable; non-compliant fee £1,325 (£476 + £849), with loss of discounts. The published timely-complete discount row states 5% off maintenance but gives £655 maintenance, total £941; the arithmetic discrepancy needs confirmation. Qualifying previous better-property rebate holders £717 (£276 + £441). Flats in one building each pay administration; one pays full maintenance and other flats pay £244.65 maintenance. Owners of four or more properties pay full administration on the first three, then £96.60 per additional property; this is not for agents managing others’ portfolios. Maintenance can be paid by 12-month direct debit, within three years of scheme start, with £22 administration. New-owner/newly-licensable maintenance can be pro-rated. Variations and temporary exemptions are free. An incomplete application not corrected within four weeks is rejected and administration is due again on resubmission.

    Who needs one
    Privately rented houses and flats occupied under a tenancy or licence within the exact designated polygon, including smaller HMOs outside Part 2 mandatory licensing, unless a statutory exemption applies.
    Exemptions
    HMOs required to be licensed under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004, qualifying social housing, interim/final management orders, temporary exemptions and Annex B exempt tenancy/occupation arrangements. Student accommodation requires the specific educational-establishment exemption; it is not exempt merely because the occupants are students.
    Apply on the council’s websiteLicence conditionsCouncil's map or designation
    How we checked this

    One of six designations made 14 November 2025 after Cabinet approval on 20 October. The signed instrument starts 15 February 2026 and says it shall cease to have effect on 14 February 2031; the last operative day is recorded as 13 February under that wording. The fee page instead calls 14 February the end of the scheme and says individual licences run until then, so confirm the final day with the council. The seven-page signed designation, Annex A map and statutory-exemption annex were fetched; the mapped boundary was visually inspected. Street/postcode lists are an aid only: the council expressly warns not every property in a listed street or postcode is included. The designated area is the blue-edged polygon, not the whole named settlement or a whole present-day ward. The six designations are selective schemes, not additional HMO licensing. The 2020–2025 scheme ended in April 2025 and was not continuously renewed; do not apply its geography or old licence to this replacement. Maltby is not one of the 2026 designations. The initial 90-day enforcement grace period did not postpone the legal commencement. Conditions differ between the two inner-town areas and the other four areas; use the linked conditions and the actual issued licence. Published conditions cover safety documents, written tenant information, management/inspection records and antisocial-behaviour management. No later boundary amendment or current proposal to add another area was established.

    Sources

  • Selective licence

    In force

    Rotherham selective licensing 2026–2031 — Thurcroft

    Area

    Only the blue-edged Thurcroft area in Annex A of its signed designation. The council street/postcode list includes partial coverage and cannot be treated as a whole-street list. Address list: rotherham.gov.uk . Search individual properties at maps.rotherham.gov.uk .

    Runs
    15 February 2026 to 13 February 2031
    Fee

    Published standard fee: £975

    Standard fee £975: £276 non-refundable Part 1 administration and £699 Part 2 maintenance on offer of a licence. A complete application with supporting evidence is required within 90 days of the property becoming licensable; non-compliant fee £1,325 (£476 + £849), with loss of discounts. The published timely-complete discount row states 5% off maintenance but gives £655 maintenance, total £941; the arithmetic discrepancy needs confirmation. Qualifying previous better-property rebate holders £717 (£276 + £441). Flats in one building each pay administration; one pays full maintenance and other flats pay £244.65 maintenance. Owners of four or more properties pay full administration on the first three, then £96.60 per additional property; this is not for agents managing others’ portfolios. Maintenance can be paid by 12-month direct debit, within three years of scheme start, with £22 administration. New-owner/newly-licensable maintenance can be pro-rated. Variations and temporary exemptions are free. An incomplete application not corrected within four weeks is rejected and administration is due again on resubmission.

    Who needs one
    Privately rented houses and flats occupied under a tenancy or licence within the exact designated polygon, including smaller HMOs outside Part 2 mandatory licensing, unless a statutory exemption applies.
    Exemptions
    HMOs required to be licensed under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004, qualifying social housing, interim/final management orders, temporary exemptions and Annex B exempt tenancy/occupation arrangements. Student accommodation requires the specific educational-establishment exemption; it is not exempt merely because the occupants are students.
    Apply on the council’s websiteLicence conditionsCouncil's map or designation
    How we checked this

    One of six designations made 14 November 2025 after Cabinet approval on 20 October. The signed instrument starts 15 February 2026 and says it shall cease to have effect on 14 February 2031; the last operative day is recorded as 13 February under that wording. The fee page instead calls 14 February the end of the scheme and says individual licences run until then, so confirm the final day with the council. The seven-page signed designation, Annex A map and statutory-exemption annex were fetched; the mapped boundary was visually inspected. Street/postcode lists are an aid only: the council expressly warns not every property in a listed street or postcode is included. The designated area is the blue-edged polygon, not the whole named settlement or a whole present-day ward. The six designations are selective schemes, not additional HMO licensing. The 2020–2025 scheme ended in April 2025 and was not continuously renewed; do not apply its geography or old licence to this replacement. Maltby is not one of the 2026 designations. The initial 90-day enforcement grace period did not postpone the legal commencement. Conditions differ between the two inner-town areas and the other four areas; use the linked conditions and the actual issued licence. Published conditions cover safety documents, written tenant information, management/inspection records and antisocial-behaviour management. No later boundary amendment or current proposal to add another area was established.

    Sources

  • Selective licence

    In force

    Rotherham selective licensing 2026–2031 — Town Centre / Eastwood / East Dene / Clifton / Boston Castle

    Area

    Only the blue-edged Town Centre / Eastwood / East Dene / Clifton / Boston Castle area in Annex A of its signed designation. The council street/postcode list includes partial coverage and cannot be treated as a whole-street list. Address list: rotherham.gov.uk . Search individual properties at maps.rotherham.gov.uk .

    Runs
    15 February 2026 to 13 February 2031
    Fee

    Published standard fee: £975

    Standard fee £975: £276 non-refundable Part 1 administration and £699 Part 2 maintenance on offer of a licence. A complete application with supporting evidence is required within 90 days of the property becoming licensable; non-compliant fee £1,325 (£476 + £849), with loss of discounts. The published timely-complete discount row states 5% off maintenance but gives £655 maintenance, total £941; the arithmetic discrepancy needs confirmation. Qualifying previous better-property rebate holders £717 (£276 + £441). Flats in one building each pay administration; one pays full maintenance and other flats pay £244.65 maintenance. Owners of four or more properties pay full administration on the first three, then £96.60 per additional property; this is not for agents managing others’ portfolios. Maintenance can be paid by 12-month direct debit, within three years of scheme start, with £22 administration. New-owner/newly-licensable maintenance can be pro-rated. Variations and temporary exemptions are free. An incomplete application not corrected within four weeks is rejected and administration is due again on resubmission.

    Who needs one
    Privately rented houses and flats occupied under a tenancy or licence within the exact designated polygon, including smaller HMOs outside Part 2 mandatory licensing, unless a statutory exemption applies.
    Exemptions
    HMOs required to be licensed under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004, qualifying social housing, interim/final management orders, temporary exemptions and Annex B exempt tenancy/occupation arrangements. Student accommodation requires the specific educational-establishment exemption; it is not exempt merely because the occupants are students.
    Apply on the council’s websiteLicence conditionsCouncil's map or designation
    How we checked this

    One of six designations made 14 November 2025 after Cabinet approval on 20 October. The signed instrument starts 15 February 2026 and says it shall cease to have effect on 14 February 2031; the last operative day is recorded as 13 February under that wording. The fee page instead calls 14 February the end of the scheme and says individual licences run until then, so confirm the final day with the council. The seven-page signed designation, Annex A map and statutory-exemption annex were fetched; the mapped boundary was visually inspected. Street/postcode lists are an aid only: the council expressly warns not every property in a listed street or postcode is included. The designated area is the blue-edged polygon, not the whole named settlement or a whole present-day ward. The six designations are selective schemes, not additional HMO licensing. The 2020–2025 scheme ended in April 2025 and was not continuously renewed; do not apply its geography or old licence to this replacement. Maltby is not one of the 2026 designations. The initial 90-day enforcement grace period did not postpone the legal commencement. Conditions differ between the two inner-town areas and the other four areas; use the linked conditions and the actual issued licence. Published conditions cover safety documents, written tenant information, management/inspection records and antisocial-behaviour management. No later boundary amendment or current proposal to add another area was established. The signed designation expressly includes East Dene in its title, although the current public notice and some download labels omit that name; the Annex A polygon controls.

    Sources

  • Selective licence

    In force

    Rotherham selective licensing 2026–2031 — Parkgate

    Area

    Only the blue-edged Parkgate area in Annex A of its signed designation. The council street/postcode list includes partial coverage and cannot be treated as a whole-street list. Address list: rotherham.gov.uk . Search individual properties at maps.rotherham.gov.uk .

    Runs
    15 February 2026 to 13 February 2031
    Fee

    Published standard fee: £975

    Standard fee £975: £276 non-refundable Part 1 administration and £699 Part 2 maintenance on offer of a licence. A complete application with supporting evidence is required within 90 days of the property becoming licensable; non-compliant fee £1,325 (£476 + £849), with loss of discounts. The published timely-complete discount row states 5% off maintenance but gives £655 maintenance, total £941; the arithmetic discrepancy needs confirmation. Qualifying previous better-property rebate holders £717 (£276 + £441). Flats in one building each pay administration; one pays full maintenance and other flats pay £244.65 maintenance. Owners of four or more properties pay full administration on the first three, then £96.60 per additional property; this is not for agents managing others’ portfolios. Maintenance can be paid by 12-month direct debit, within three years of scheme start, with £22 administration. New-owner/newly-licensable maintenance can be pro-rated. Variations and temporary exemptions are free. An incomplete application not corrected within four weeks is rejected and administration is due again on resubmission.

    Who needs one
    Privately rented houses and flats occupied under a tenancy or licence within the exact designated polygon, including smaller HMOs outside Part 2 mandatory licensing, unless a statutory exemption applies.
    Exemptions
    HMOs required to be licensed under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004, qualifying social housing, interim/final management orders, temporary exemptions and Annex B exempt tenancy/occupation arrangements. Student accommodation requires the specific educational-establishment exemption; it is not exempt merely because the occupants are students.
    Apply on the council’s websiteLicence conditionsCouncil's map or designation
    How we checked this

    One of six designations made 14 November 2025 after Cabinet approval on 20 October. The signed instrument starts 15 February 2026 and says it shall cease to have effect on 14 February 2031; the last operative day is recorded as 13 February under that wording. The fee page instead calls 14 February the end of the scheme and says individual licences run until then, so confirm the final day with the council. The seven-page signed designation, Annex A map and statutory-exemption annex were fetched; the mapped boundary was visually inspected. Street/postcode lists are an aid only: the council expressly warns not every property in a listed street or postcode is included. The designated area is the blue-edged polygon, not the whole named settlement or a whole present-day ward. The six designations are selective schemes, not additional HMO licensing. The 2020–2025 scheme ended in April 2025 and was not continuously renewed; do not apply its geography or old licence to this replacement. Maltby is not one of the 2026 designations. The initial 90-day enforcement grace period did not postpone the legal commencement. Conditions differ between the two inner-town areas and the other four areas; use the linked conditions and the actual issued licence. Published conditions cover safety documents, written tenant information, management/inspection records and antisocial-behaviour management. No later boundary amendment or current proposal to add another area was established.

    Sources

  • Selective licence

    In force

    Rotherham selective licensing 2026–2031 — Dinnington

    Area

    Only the blue-edged Dinnington area in Annex A of its signed designation. The council street/postcode list includes partial coverage and cannot be treated as a whole-street list. Address list: rotherham.gov.uk . Search individual properties at maps.rotherham.gov.uk .

    Runs
    15 February 2026 to 13 February 2031
    Fee

    Published standard fee: £975

    Standard fee £975: £276 non-refundable Part 1 administration and £699 Part 2 maintenance on offer of a licence. A complete application with supporting evidence is required within 90 days of the property becoming licensable; non-compliant fee £1,325 (£476 + £849), with loss of discounts. The published timely-complete discount row states 5% off maintenance but gives £655 maintenance, total £941; the arithmetic discrepancy needs confirmation. Qualifying previous better-property rebate holders £717 (£276 + £441). Flats in one building each pay administration; one pays full maintenance and other flats pay £244.65 maintenance. Owners of four or more properties pay full administration on the first three, then £96.60 per additional property; this is not for agents managing others’ portfolios. Maintenance can be paid by 12-month direct debit, within three years of scheme start, with £22 administration. New-owner/newly-licensable maintenance can be pro-rated. Variations and temporary exemptions are free. An incomplete application not corrected within four weeks is rejected and administration is due again on resubmission.

    Who needs one
    Privately rented houses and flats occupied under a tenancy or licence within the exact designated polygon, including smaller HMOs outside Part 2 mandatory licensing, unless a statutory exemption applies.
    Exemptions
    HMOs required to be licensed under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004, qualifying social housing, interim/final management orders, temporary exemptions and Annex B exempt tenancy/occupation arrangements. Student accommodation requires the specific educational-establishment exemption; it is not exempt merely because the occupants are students.
    Apply on the council’s websiteLicence conditionsCouncil's map or designation
    How we checked this

    One of six designations made 14 November 2025 after Cabinet approval on 20 October. The signed instrument starts 15 February 2026 and says it shall cease to have effect on 14 February 2031; the last operative day is recorded as 13 February under that wording. The fee page instead calls 14 February the end of the scheme and says individual licences run until then, so confirm the final day with the council. The seven-page signed designation, Annex A map and statutory-exemption annex were fetched; the mapped boundary was visually inspected. Street/postcode lists are an aid only: the council expressly warns not every property in a listed street or postcode is included. The designated area is the blue-edged polygon, not the whole named settlement or a whole present-day ward. The six designations are selective schemes, not additional HMO licensing. The 2020–2025 scheme ended in April 2025 and was not continuously renewed; do not apply its geography or old licence to this replacement. Maltby is not one of the 2026 designations. The initial 90-day enforcement grace period did not postpone the legal commencement. Conditions differ between the two inner-town areas and the other four areas; use the linked conditions and the actual issued licence. Published conditions cover safety documents, written tenant information, management/inspection records and antisocial-behaviour management. No later boundary amendment or current proposal to add another area was established.

    Sources

  • Selective licence

    In force

    Rotherham selective licensing 2026–2031 — Masbrough / Kimberworth

    Area

    Only the blue-edged Masbrough / Kimberworth area in Annex A of its signed designation. The council street/postcode list includes partial coverage and cannot be treated as a whole-street list. Address list: rotherham.gov.uk . Search individual properties at maps.rotherham.gov.uk .

    Runs
    15 February 2026 to 13 February 2031
    Fee

    Published standard fee: £975

    Standard fee £975: £276 non-refundable Part 1 administration and £699 Part 2 maintenance on offer of a licence. A complete application with supporting evidence is required within 90 days of the property becoming licensable; non-compliant fee £1,325 (£476 + £849), with loss of discounts. The published timely-complete discount row states 5% off maintenance but gives £655 maintenance, total £941; the arithmetic discrepancy needs confirmation. Qualifying previous better-property rebate holders £717 (£276 + £441). Flats in one building each pay administration; one pays full maintenance and other flats pay £244.65 maintenance. Owners of four or more properties pay full administration on the first three, then £96.60 per additional property; this is not for agents managing others’ portfolios. Maintenance can be paid by 12-month direct debit, within three years of scheme start, with £22 administration. New-owner/newly-licensable maintenance can be pro-rated. Variations and temporary exemptions are free. An incomplete application not corrected within four weeks is rejected and administration is due again on resubmission.

    Who needs one
    Privately rented houses and flats occupied under a tenancy or licence within the exact designated polygon, including smaller HMOs outside Part 2 mandatory licensing, unless a statutory exemption applies.
    Exemptions
    HMOs required to be licensed under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004, qualifying social housing, interim/final management orders, temporary exemptions and Annex B exempt tenancy/occupation arrangements. Student accommodation requires the specific educational-establishment exemption; it is not exempt merely because the occupants are students.
    Apply on the council’s websiteLicence conditionsCouncil's map or designation
    How we checked this

    One of six designations made 14 November 2025 after Cabinet approval on 20 October. The signed instrument starts 15 February 2026 and says it shall cease to have effect on 14 February 2031; the last operative day is recorded as 13 February under that wording. The fee page instead calls 14 February the end of the scheme and says individual licences run until then, so confirm the final day with the council. The seven-page signed designation, Annex A map and statutory-exemption annex were fetched; the mapped boundary was visually inspected. Street/postcode lists are an aid only: the council expressly warns not every property in a listed street or postcode is included. The designated area is the blue-edged polygon, not the whole named settlement or a whole present-day ward. The six designations are selective schemes, not additional HMO licensing. The 2020–2025 scheme ended in April 2025 and was not continuously renewed; do not apply its geography or old licence to this replacement. Maltby is not one of the 2026 designations. The initial 90-day enforcement grace period did not postpone the legal commencement. Conditions differ between the two inner-town areas and the other four areas; use the linked conditions and the actual issued licence. Published conditions cover safety documents, written tenant information, management/inspection records and antisocial-behaviour management. No later boundary amendment or current proposal to add another area was established.

    Sources

  • Mandatory HMO licence

    In force

    Mandatory HMO licensing

    Area

    Whole Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council area, independently of the smaller selective licensing boundaries.

    Fee

    Published standard fee: £929

    Current council fee page: new licence £929, comprising £266 non-refundable application and £663 maintenance payment after the draft licence is granted. Timely renewal £805, comprising £237 application plus £568 maintenance, available only where the previous licence has not expired. Additional late-application charge £411, non-refundable; the council tells the applicant if it is payable. The application-form table repeats £929 alongside its renewal lines, but the current web page states the two renewal components separately; confirm the actual demand.

    Who needs one
    HMOs with five or more people from two or more households sharing toilets, bathrooms or kitchens, regardless of the number of storeys, subject to statutory exclusions.
    Exemptions
    Statutory HMO exclusions apply; buildings and individual flats need their own assessment.
    Apply on the council’s website
    How we checked this

    Maximum licence term five years. The licence specifies occupancy, cannot cover more than one property and is not transferable. The council requests applicable gas safety evidence, safe electrical appliances/furniture, correctly working smoke alarms and written occupation terms. Its application form is separate from selective licensing. The published HMO guidance is dated January 2018 with a licensing update for October 2018; its statement that no additional HMO scheme operates is historical, supported by the current mandatory-licensing presentation but not a substitute for a new designation search. No current or approved future additional HMO designation was established in targeted council and committee searches. A smaller HMO that is outside mandatory licensing may nevertheless require a selective licence inside one of the six mapped selective areas. Complete current issued HMO conditions were not independently located.

    Sources

Article 4 for house shares

Not yet confirmed

Whether Rotherham has an Article 4 direction on house shares.

Council source

Civil penalty policy

The council's policy sets how it decides the size of a fine.

A proposed replacement Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and Civil Financial Penalty Calculation Framework were consulted on from 13 August to 8 October 2026. The consultation had closed by the research date. Cabinet on 8 June approved consultation, not final adoption, and expected consultation results and revised documents in November 2026: moderngov.rotherham.gov.uk . The actual published draft includes the Renters’ Rights Act £7,000/£40,000 tiers, statutory starting points, a proposed 46.6% local reduction factor and 15% early-payment reduction. These are proposals and must not be presented as an adopted calculation policy. No subsequent final adoption was established as at 15 October 2026. General enforcement-policy approval in May is not evidence that this separate housing calculation framework was adopted.

Rotherham's civil penalty policy

Consultations

Not yet confirmed

We could not settle these points when we researched Rotherham on 15 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them.

  • Not yet confirmed

    Resolve the exact final operative day of the six selective designations: each signed instrument says cease to have effect on 14 February 2031, whereas fee guidance says licences run to scheme end on 14 February. The recorded final day follows the instrument’s cessation wording rather than silently extending it.

  • Not yet confirmed

    Confirm the selective fee discount arithmetic: the current table describes a 5% maintenance discount but gives £655 instead of £699, producing £941 total. These published figures are preserved, not recalculated.

  • Not yet confirmed

    Confirm final adoption and operative version of the housing civil-penalty calculation framework after consultation closed on 8 October 2026; June approval was only to consult and envisaged a November decision.

  • Not yet confirmed

    Confirm any subsequent additional HMO scheme or HMO Article 4 direction with the council; the published negative guidance is dated 2018.

  • Not yet confirmed

    Check individual addresses against the signed Annex A boundary and searchable map. Listed streets and postcodes are not wholly included and do not establish coverage by themselves.

  • Not yet confirmed

    Obtain complete current HMO licence conditions and clarify the renewal-total labelling in the application form against the current web fee components.

Landlord register

The national landlord register is separate from licensing. Rotherham is in Yorkshire and The Humber, where registration is planned from 15 April 2027 to 14 July 2027. The regulations are still in draft. Read about the register